Allawi backs Falluja strike

Baghdad has confirmed that a US bombing raid on Falluja has taken place after consultation with the appointed interim government.

06 Jul 2004 09:25 GMT

Hospital said 12 died in the raid, listing women and children

Hospital sources in the town said at least 12 people were killed and five more wounded, listing women and children as among the victims.

But interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi justified the decision to bomb the city on Tuesday, insisting that the two tonnes of explosive dropped had targeted a hideout for alleged supporters of al-Qaida-linked Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.